It’s rare, but sometimes I’m right

“I don’t know what’s worse, ” I whined, a half-drunk glass in my hand, “letting my child fail in order to learn a lesson or making her mad at me for making the right decision on her behalf to give her a better chance at success.”

It’s a fine line between reality discipline and coddling our children sometimes. Friday night I had the fortunate opportunity to have dinner with one of my besties. We both experienced a long week and used our found hour together to share a meal and a couple of glasses of wine. Sometimes the best therapy is just time with someone else who is currently walking in your shoes. We have daughters the same age. We have the same daily struggles with dodging flying hormones and dirty looks. And according to both our children, we are never right.

After my heated conversation with The Tortoise about next year’s schedule, I was totally spent and it was nice to let off a little steam. It felt good to be able to release some emotional vomit and not be judged or criticized. It was doubly good to feel validated about some of my parenting decisions. But the thing I most valued, was my friend’s perspective.

“I think, if we raise our kids to be compassionate, honest, hard-working, faithful, family and community focused adults, then we have raised extraordinary individuals,” she said.

There are times when our kids must fail in order to understand the value of hard work and success. But then there are times we must determine if failing will too greatly impair future success, requiring us to step in and make some hard decisions on our children’s behalf. After all, they are just children. Not allowing The Tortoise to take extra classes next school year was one of those tough decisions. The possible impact of doing any more damage to her already compromised GPA was too much of a risk, in my opinion, something that would impact college applications later. By the time I left the restaurant Friday night, I was at peace about our schedule decision, and I was at peace knowing that in my daughter’s eyes I was completely wrong and unfair.

“Mom,” The Tortoise said the next morning, “I need to tell you something, but I’m a little embarrassed.”

She and I were stealing a few moments alone together in the car to get Saturday morning donuts. I was surprised she was even speaking to me actually, it had only been a couple of days since our fallout.

“Sure,” I replied, “you can say anything you need to.”

The Tortoise took a deep breath before speaking.

“Well, I’ve been thinking a lot about the decision you and dad made about school next year,” she said.

My grip on the steering wheel tightened.

Let her speak without taking it personally, I thought.

“And I realize now that you were right. I had a hard time keeping up with six classes this year. I can’t imagine how I would have kept up with seven next year. Spanish II in summer school does make the most sense.”

“Thank you for telling me,” I replied with a smile, taking her words completely personally.

Like this:

Related

Published by My Pajama Days

I am Emily Okaty Wilson, freelance writer, blogger and public speaker. It sounds better than saying I stay in my pajamas all day eating salt and vinegar chips. I claim to be a wife, a mother, a homeschool teacher and a musician. Sometimes I'm funny.
View all posts by My Pajama Days

That takes a strong girl, with a strong character, to be able to say to her mother, “you were right.” You have much to be proud of. I too am in the trenches of raising a thirteen year old daughter. A good friend’s company and a glass of wine every once in awhile are two essentials. : )

I think you totally made the right decision — and it’s great that she realised it too, or she probably would’ve continued resenting it 🙂 I know in the past I’ve felt the same way (“No, Miriam, you can NOT do another ballet class…”) but later in the year I’ve been relieved about it, and though about how stressful it would have been to do what I wanted. I, however, am never brave enough / humble enough to admit that my parents were right. Your daughters are strong people than me!

Archives

Favorites

Copyright Emily Okaty Wilson and/or My Pajama Days 2010. For republication requests of written content, original artwork, or photography, please contact mypajamadays@gmail.com. This notice is void in case of contributions and posts in which the author has specified.